Course Delivery

Delivery Type

Delivery length / details

Seminars / Tutorials

4 hours per week

Assessment

Assessment Type

Assessment length / details

Proportion

Semester Assessment

20%: 8 written assignments, 4 of them under exam conditions (those taken under exam conditions counting twice as much as the others); 10%: listening comprehension (4 tests); 10%: oral (4 marks based on attendance, active contribution and performance in small oral groups).

40%

Semester Exam

The oral Examination takes the form of a 15-minute interview with one member of staff. During this interview the candidate will be asked: (a) to offer a brief presentation (maximum 5-7 minutes) in the target language on a selected topic and (b) to engage in a general conversation arising in the first instance from the presentation itself.
Some weeks before the oral exam, students will be provided with four topics taken from the topics covered during the oral classes throughout the year. They will need to prepare all four of these topics as only one of them will be given to the student in the exam. The final exam topic will be provided to the candidate at the beginning of the examination. There will be no period of preparation time immediately beforehand. Candidates are reminded that they are not allowed to read from a script and are not allowed to bring any notes into the examination room; they must not deliver a previously learnt speech. The presentation should lead into (and be constructed so as to lead into) a conversation and further discussion of the topic. A more general conversation will follow.

10%

Semester Exam

3 Hours
written examination in semester 2

50%

Supplementary Exam

3 Hours
If the module has been failed, the supplementary exam will consist of a 3-hour written examination which will count for 100%. If the student has failed the oral exam but has a passing average without the oral exam being taken into consideration, the supplementary exam will consist of an oral examination only (same format as in May/June). The mark of this supplementary oral exam will be integrated into the final mark.

100%

Learning Outcomes

By the end of the module, if you have made satisfactory progress, you will be able to:

- demonstrate your interest in and understanding of the Italian language as a subject of study
- display proficiency in the essential framework of Italian grammar and syntax
- translate selected passages from and into Italian
- use a range of linguistic structures, particularly those in more frequent general usage
- communicate in written Italian at a standard appropriate to Level 1 beginners
- produce summaries of material written in Italian
- give your own insights into aspects of Italian society
- use a good range of Italian vocabulary
- respond with understanding to spoken Italian
- make both supervised and independent use of the facilities available in the Language Resource Centre: audio visual material, interactive computer programmes and satellite television, to practice oral and aural skills.

Language modules have, as an integral part of their structure, regular homework assignments and class tests as well as end-of-year examinations. All assessment is designed to measure your progress against learning outcomes at the appropriate level.

Brief description

This module forms part of the core Level 1 programme in Italian and is the main language course in that year for students who do not have an 'A' level or equivalent in the language. It aims to introduce students to contemporary Italian, imparting all four skills (reading, writing, speaking and listening) and developing language awareness, and to bring students up to the standards which may enable them to proceed to Level 2. This intensive course adopts a multimedia approach, making extensive use of the audio visual material held in the Language Resource Centre, interactive computer programmes and satellite television.